Why is the Christian Gospel or message important?
Moreover,
brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also
you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you
hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 1
Corinthians 15:1-2.
1) The Gospel was preached by the Apostles as commanded by Jesus
Christ.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and
to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
Acts 8:4-5.
For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach
Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks
foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24.
2) The Gospel will bring both conviction and joy to those being saved.
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts
2:37
And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:8
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of
the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Acts
13:48
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts
13:52
3) The Gospel brings salvation to those who believe it.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the
people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed
done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be
known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the
dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone
which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief
cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other
name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:8-12.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with
wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For
the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to
us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18.
What is the
Christian Gospel or message?
For I delivered to you first
of all that which I also received: (1) that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures, (2) and that He was buried, (3) and that He
rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians
15:3-4.
1) Jesus Christ died for our sins.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb
of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by
His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were
enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more,
having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that,
but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we
have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:8-11.
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the
kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14.
2) Jesus Christ did die and was buried.
But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a
good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you
wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done
what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole
world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Mark 14:6-9.
But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man
should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat
falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it
produces much grain.” John 12:23-24.
3) Jesus Christ rose from the dead establishing our faith (living hope)
in Him.
Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to
the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the
Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of
the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of
God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection
from the dead. Romans 1:1-4.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to
His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3.